March 2020 Turnip News ...all the news that turns up!
Master Gardeners
Prince William
Editor: Jan Doble, MGPW
Inside This Issue: MGPW Annual Recertification 2 President’s Message Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings— 3-4 At A Glance by David Robison, MGPW How Did Roses Lose Their Scent 5-7 e are continuing our search for help in a few of our Vegetable Gardening Series 2020 8 committees. We need chairs for our Social The Basics of Gardening 2020 9 W Committee and two new committees—Outreach Gardening in the Valley Symposium 10 to Underserved Communities and Fund Raising. Turf Grass and Pizza 11 VT ‘Giving Day’ March 18-19 12 We are looking forward to the new format for Recert this year. I am excited about the idea of an outside speaker, ‘Let’s Get Growing’ Gardening Symposium 13 Michael Carter from Virginia State University, followed by a Prince William Drinking Water Clinic 14 job fair session in the atrium to allow everybody to talk to Teaching Garden Work Days 2020 15 leaders of each of the projects and sign up for any of interest. EMG Program Serves Needs for 16-18 Meaningful Engagement Consider doing something different this year if you have not Donations for Spring Plant Sale 19 ventured out for a while. Spend some time at Plant a Row, City Nature Challenge 19 the Teaching Garden, do a few Best Lawns or answer clients’ 2020 Saturday in the Garden Dates 20 questions at a Farmers’ Market for a change of pace. I know Compost Awareness Day 21 that I tended to do the same activities after my first year and Upcoming Events & MGPW Meetings— 22 we offer a lot of different activities for folks to get involved Details with. Recent MGPW Happenings... 23 For Interns— time at the Help Desk is always interesting and Get To Know a Critter 24 Turnip News remember that the Farmers’ Markets in Manassas and Dale City run all spring, summer and into the fall if you are looking for hours. Also, you might consider doing BOTH Farmers’ Markets, as they each have a different feel in style and clients. We can always add an intern to one of our Clinics with no problem if you find later on in the year that you want to get some hours in Clinic time.
Please also consider coming to a Board meeting—they are almost always interesting. The Board meetings can give you an interesting overview as to what sort of things we deal with in all our programs. It can be a great way to give input into the many programs we discuss each meeting. It can also be a way to get your feet wet if you are considering greater involvement in a committee or activity. The Board meets 8 times a year at 6 pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. You can check our website for the schedule or feel free to reach out to any Board member for information. We are all listed on the website.
Thank you for all that you do! David [email protected]
MGPW Annual Recertification: Monday, March 2 at 6:30pm
Edward Kelly Leadership Center 14715 Bristow Rd. Manassas, VA
RSVP to the Extension Horticulture Help Desk
(703) 792-7747 or [email protected] so we can plan for seats and refreshments.
——————————
Keynote Speaker: Michael Carter, Jr.
Followed by a Volunteer Job Fair in the atrium
Share something in the Turnip News! Email your submissions to [email protected] by the 20th of any month
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Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings—At A Glance
March MONDAY 2 MGPW RECERTIFICATION SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY TUESDAY 7 7 7 10 Basics of Gardening Vegetable Garden Gardening in the HELP DESK Series 2020 Series 2020 Valley Symposium Training (Session III) (Managing Pests) TUESDAY SATURDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 10 14 18 19 ‘Turf Grass and Pizza’ Basics of Gardening Virginia Tech Virginia Tech with Series 2020 (Giving Day) (Giving Day) Dr. Mike Goatley (Snow Date)
SATURDAY SATURDAY TUESDAY MONDAY 21 21 24 30 11th Annual Vegetable Garden Plant a Row VCE-PW Well-Water Gardening Symposium Series 2020 (Organizational Clinic (Kickoff Mtg) (Loudoun Co. MG’s) (Snow Date) Meeting) April
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SATURDAY WEDNEDAY 1 2 4 8 Well Water MG Plant Clinic Garden Center MGPW Board of Sample Drop Off Training “Ask a Master Directors Meeting Gardener’ Clinics (All MG’s Welcome)
SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 11 11 11 12 Manassas Farmers’ Garden Center Bluebell Festival Dale City Farmers’ Market Plant “Ask a Master “Ask a Master Market Plant Clinics Begin Gardener’ Clinics Gardener’ Info Table Clinics Begin 3 Turnip News
SATURDAY April (cont.) WEDNESDAY
18 MONDAY TUESDAY 22 Garden Center Earth Day “Ask a Master 20 21 “Ask a Master Gardener’ Clinics Gardener’ Info Tables Earth Day Earth Day “Ask a Master “Ask a Master SATURDAY Gardener’ Info Tables Gardener’ Info Tables SATURDAY 25 25 Saturday in the Garden Center Garden (plus City “Ask a Master Nature Challenge) Gardener’ Clinics May
SATURDAY MONDAY SATURDAY WEDNESDAY 2 4 9 13 Garden Center Well Water Results Compost Awareness MGPW Board of “Ask a Master Interpretation Day “Ask a Master Directors Meeting Gardener’ Clinics Meeting Gardener’ Booth (All MG’s Welcome) Social Media — keep in touch!
BLOG: TeachingGardenpwc.wordpress.com
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/ mastergardenerspwc/
FACEBOOK: VCE - Prince William Master Gardeners
FACEBOOK Teaching Garden: teaching garden VCE Master Gardeners of PWC
TWITTER: @VCEMG
PINTEREST: pinterest.com/PrinceWilliamMG/
Master Gardeners of Prince William WEBSITE: MGPW.org/
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How Did Roses Lose Their Scent
by Abbie and Vincent Panettiere, MGPW
ome years back I bought myself a Peace rose- in the late 18th century, they brought several new bush. It had been advertised as one of the desirable qualities: repeat bloom; a true crimson- S most popular hybrid teas of the 20th Century red color; a shorter bushy rose; and roses in many and was said to have beautiful double flowers yellow shades. with coral inside and yellow and pink outside. Also, I remember reading then that it had “...a A strong rose fragrance is a necessity for wild sweet and fruity fragrance roses since it attracts bees to that varies in its strength pollinate them. Without from mild to strong” fragrance, they’re losing a (Wikipedia). Checking a survival tool. For centuries, number of rosarian plant the fragrance of roses was sellers’ sites online recently, most important and rose “a pleasing fragrance” figures fragrance was at times used prominently in descriptions of for barter or sale as well as for Peace, though the amount of fragrance and flavoring. fragrance and strength of it Damask roses were valued as varies from place to place. a species in the production of rose water, attar of roses and My rosebush survived for essential oils used in the several years and produced perfumery industry. It flowers each year which lasted eventually was found that the well and were an approxi- fragrance of roses originated mation of the coral—yellow— within various genes in the pink combination of colors Rosa ‘Peace’ petals and they determined that the descriptions of Peace mentioned, the amount or lack of scent a species of but they had no fragrance that I could discern. rose would produce.
It’s often noticed that if you buy cut roses or other When the commercial cut rose industry developed, fragrant flowers for use in bouquets you’re apt to not only in Holland and America but, lately, in find that your flowers are large, beautiful, and Africa and several South American countries, the may last for longer than you’d expect in a vase of qualities that became important were a resistance water but they typically, particularly the roses, to disease, longevity or the ability of a rose to last lack any sweet fragrance. I was curious as to why. beautifully in bloom for most of a week even in a bowl of water, and the size and beauty of the The answer appears to lie in the practice of flowers themselves. This is when the flowers crossing roses to improve various other traits that began to lose their fragrance. are considered desirable. The rose has been around for some 35 million years, there are fossil The presence or absence of fragrance in rose proofs to support the estimate and today one species is rather technical for someone such as hundred fifty species of rose are now spread me, so let me share this description from Science throughout the Northern Hemisphere from News for Students: Alaska to Mexico and northern Africa. The garden cultivation of roses began in more recent time; it “[Roses] create their scent using a surprising is thought to have begun some five thousand tool. It’s an enzyme — a hardworking years ago in China. molecule—that was thought to help clean up DNA. This enzyme is missing in many roses. Throughout history, the story of rose culture has And that seems to explain why their blooms involved cross-fertilization to improve or also lack a sweet floral aroma. The new accentuate desirable qualities for human tastes. finding could help scientists solve the thorny When Chinese roses were introduced into Europe problem of why some rose varieties bred for 5 Turnip News
dazzling color and long-lasting blooms have The back story of the Peace rose is rather lost their scent. interesting. The original was bred in a nursery near Lyon, France, by Francis Meilland and his “When roses do smell like roses, it’s because father, Antoine Meilland. It was recognized by the they give off a distinct mix of chemicals. Meillands as the most promising rose in a large Called monoterpenes, these chemicals can be group of roses they had pollinated in June of 1935 found in many odorous plants. Monoter- and whose seedlings were grafted onto root stock penes come in different shapes and scents, in 1936, and whose buds opened in October. but all have 10 atoms of the element carbon. Father and son grew the rose for four years. Its In roses, these chemicals usually are floral identifying name was ‘3-35-40’, as one of a and citrusy. But it was unknown how roses number of the batch of roses grown at this time. make—or lose—their scent. Rose 3-35-40 was presented at an international conference of rose growers in Lyon, France in June, 1939 and attracted great interest from other rose growers attending. Unfortunately, a few months after the conference, World War II began and by May, 1940, France was occupied by the German army.
This presented a terrible threat to the Meillands Papa Meilland rose because under German occupation, the Meilland farms had been ordered to grow food rather than “Other plants make fragrance chemicals roses. The family sent all their rose stock to using enzymes; these molecules speed up friends in Turkey and also sent bud wood from chemical reactions without taking part in 3-35-40 to friends in Germany, Italy and the them. In flowers, these enzymes tend to snip United States. The rose stock shipped to Turkey two pieces off an unscented monoterpene to was destroyed when the German army create a scented one. commandeered the train that carried it; the shipments of 3-35-40 to Germany and Italy were “But when (Hugueney’s team) compared successful at first, though dogged by other smelly and smell-free roses, they discovered problems during the war. Trade with the US had a different enzyme at work. Called been embargoed so the only way to get the RhNUDX1, it was active in the sweet- precious bud wood out of France was to smuggle it smelling roses but mysteriously shut down out in a diplomatic pouch. Fortunately, it arrived in the bland blooms. The scientists shared in the United States safely. Since the US and this discovery in 2015 in Science. Germany were at war, the Meillands did not know if the bud stock had made it. “The discovery makes scientists wonder why roses use this unusual method, says As for the name, the Meillands had originally Dorothea Tholl, a plant biochemist at intended to name the rose—at this point still Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. It may be called “3-35-40,” “Madame A. Meilland” in because RhNUDX1 is more efficient than memory of Claudia Dubreuil, the wife of Antoine other enzymes, she says.” and mother of Francis Meilland. During the war years the Meillands received welcome news from This discovery is fairly new and some flower Germany and Italy that the rose, which the growers are now attempting to breed scent back German grower named "Gloria Dei" (or ‘Glory to into the flowers they grow. God') and their Italian friend called "Gioia" (or 'Joy'), was proving to be an outstanding rose. My no-scent Peace is probably explained by the fact that it’s part of a large family, and all Since Germany and the US were enemy members are not the same. There are, presently, combatants the Meillands had no news from the quite a few roses of that name: Climbing Peace, US and didn't even know, for a time, if the bud Chicago Peace, Flaming Peace, and Pink Peace to stock made it to the US. They were able to con- name just a few. tract with a rose grower, Robert Pyle, of “Conrad 6 Turnip News
Pyle/Star Roses” and he was able to propagate the Rose Scent bud wood successfully. He then submitted it to the Genomics Approach to Discovering Novel Floral All-American Rose Selections (AARS), to be tested Fragrance–Related Genes for three years. (The AARS was an award that ABSTRACT was given annually, from 1940 to 2013, by the American rose industry to an outstanding new https://web.extension.illinois.edu/roses/history.cfm rose variety.) University of Illinois Extension Our Rose Gardeners When Robert Pyle was finally able to The History of Roses communicate with Francis Meilland in 1944, he told him that the rose would be released after the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_tea_rose war ended. When Berlin fell and a truce was Hybrid tea rose declared, the rose was launched with the name Wikipedia “Peace.” https://quarryhillbg.org/ I have very happy memories of the Peace rose we thehistoryandlegacyofthechinarose.html had, fragrance or not. But who says you can’t Quarryhill Botanical Gardeners have it all. Maybe with the right mixture of art The History and Legacy of the China Rose and science, we can have perfection—even if Howard Higson fleetingly—in a beautifully colored, shaped and bewitchingly scented rose. http://www.b-srs.org/cgi-bin/popuptextA.cgi?t=../ BSRS/BSRS-SSI/storyofpeace.txt&n=The% No Scent Information 20Story%20of%20Peace Bradenton--Sarasota Rose Society https://www.amystewart.com/books/flower- The Story of Peace confidential/ Flower Confidential https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_roses Amy Stewart Garden roses 2007 Wikipedia https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article- https://www.sciencedaily.com/ 3149058/Why-rose-does-NOT-smell-sweet- releases/2016/06/160606082121.htm Scientists-discover-flowers-losing-scent- Science Daily consumers-want-better-looking-blooms.html As temperatures rise, flowers emit less scent Daily Mail June 6, 2016 Colin Fernandez July 3, 2015 https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/07/06/gene- identified-for-scent-could-lead-to-perfect-rose/ https://www.finegardening.com/article/will-roses- Genetic Literacy Project: Gene identified for scent ever-be-fragrant-again could lead to perfect rose Fine Gardening Aviva Rutkin Will Roses Ever Be Fragrant Again? July 6, 2015 https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/ http://www.allergyfree-gardening.com/articles/28- secret-rose-scent-surprises-scientists hybridizing-your-own-roses.html Science News for Students Allergy-Free Gardening Chemistry Secret to rose scent surprises scientists The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping Beth Mole Hybridizing Your Own Roses July 23, 2015 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ America_Rose_Selections PMC151220/ All-America Rose Selections US National Library of Medicine Wikipedia The Plant Cell American Society of Plant Biologists 7 Turnip News
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www.pwcgov.org/growwww.pwcgov.org/grow
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http://nsvmga.org/events/symposium/
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CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE: https://givingday.vt.edu/
Keep checking back for updates about the specific EMG link (it was not available at the time of this newsletter publication)
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http://loudouncountymastergardeners.org/events/annual-symposium/
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https://tinyurl.com/PWVCE-2020VAHWQP
[email protected][email protected]
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Teaching Garden Work Days 2020
Come out and work in the garden on any or all work days!
Tuesday Mornings 9 a.m. to Noon
March 24 and 31 April 7, 14, 21 and 28 May 5, 12, 19 and 26 June 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 July 7, 14, 21 and 28 August 4, 11, 18, and 25 September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 October 6, 13, 20 and 27 November 3, 10 and 17
Thursday Evenings 6:30 p.m. to Dusk
April 9, 16, 23 and 30 May 7, 14, 21 and 28 June 4, 11, 18 and 25 July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 August 6, 13, 20 and 27 September 3, 10, 17 and 24
Saturday Mornings 9 a.m. to Noon
April 18 and 25 May 9 and 16 June 13 and 20 July 18 and 25 August 8 and 15 September 12 and 19 October 10 and 17
All Saturdays in the Garden are also Work Days!
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EMG Program Serves Needs for Meaningful Engagement by Rick Reo, MGPW Intern
s a new retiree, I have been preoccupied with executing a loose plan for staying meaningfully engaged in retirement. After completing Extension Master Gardener (EMG) A training and while simultaneously trying out a short list of Meetup.com groups and the like, it occurred to me that the EMG program subject domain and activities might have scope enough to satisfy a good number of my most important value-needs, as I transitioned from a traditional work-centric lifestyle. The following discusses ten key areas where I see an overlap between the needs/goals for meaningful engagement and opportunities the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) Prince William Master Gardener (MG) program offers its membership, most likely anywhere in the state you are located.
Important Note: Although my original focus was on retirement, the value categories in bold below are very much applicable to people who occupy a wide range of work/non-work statuses across all age groups.
Volunteerism (#1) is a go-to activity for many retirees who want to give back or find new interests. According to the MG Handbook (2015, p.4) “The EMG program is a volunteer educational partnership with VCE …”. The EMG program relies on trained volunteers to fulfill its mission; therefore, opportunities for volunteer involvement abound and cut across all ten areas of the meaning taxonomy discussed here—and then some. EMG volunteers support VCE’s mission and are “… dedicated to working with the community to encourage and promote environmentally-sound horticultural practices and sustainable landscape management”. (p.4), which adds a role for
Environmental Advocacy (#2) to the mix that meets a pressing need of people across all age 16 Turnip News groups. The VCE MG program is organized around a mandate to meet Water Quality Standards viz-a-viz pesticide management practices. However, there are many other ways the program activities support environmental stewardship—for example, promoting native plants, planting trees, our BEST Lawns program, Audubon at Home and many more.
Hobbies and Interests (#3) are a common value-need throughout a person’s life cycle, but retirement affords a particularly opportune time to pursue old hobbies or start new ones. For many, EMG programs can help revive interest in an existing gardening pastime or related interests in camping or hiking, or it may redirect these interests towards service to community or neighbors. The EMG program supports multiple ways to apply gardening practices for private and public use and opportunities to expand these skills and learn new ones. Gardening as a hobby subsumes other interests, such as, topiary, growing vegetables for the needy, wildlife care, composting, resource management, creative design and more.
Life-Long Learning and Education (#4) is yet another important way that being in the EMG program supports our learning needs over time and into the golden years. The biological, environmental, and scientific research basis for the topics that encompass gardening are wide- ranging and evolving, which makes for a truly life-long learning adventure. Opportunities for learning are continuous beyond the initial EMG class training and internship through ongoing annual professional development and on-the-job learning experiences. Moreover, learning can be enriched and shared through
Professional Affiliations (#5), and members of all ages will find ample opportunities to take
Teaching, Mentoring (#6) and other leadership roles where they can share their wisdom.
Health and Recreation (#7) are important value-needs for people of all ages by finding ways to keep healthy through recreational or outdoor activities. Clearly, the EMG program supplies multiple ways for members to participate in healthy, outdoor activities of various kinds. From tending the Teaching Garden to tree planting projects to nature walks and talks, members can find activities that suit their effort level and interests. In addition, it is important for EMG members, especially seniors, to find ways to make or extend
Social Connections and Interaction (#8) often through
Community Involvement (#9) for example, public classes/speakers, community gardens and projects, special educational events, plant clinics, MG socials, Farmers’ Markets and more. Not surprisingly, the EMG program offers countless ways for volunteers to interface with one another, local communities, and the public.
Personal Fulfillment, Meaning, and Spirituality (#10) are terms that contain such pillars of meaning as, having a life purpose, a sense of belonging, an experience of wonder, outlets for creativity and play, transcendence, and other deeply felt individual, communal, and transpersonal experiences. The EMG program provides an organizational framework and timeworn pathways that members can use for directing meaningful interactions with nature and the natural world that may, for some members, spontaneously evoke deeply emotional or thoughtful experiences such as joy, awe, mindfulness, beauty, contemplation, and the like. Individual and group activities in the Teaching Garden, a community garden, the home garden, field trips, group projects, and 17 Turnip News environmental events are but a few of the places where members may experience personal happiness or a ‘loss of self’, referred to as kama muta (the devotion emotion) by supporting low income, elderly, or disabled residents.
One take-away from this narrative is you don’t have to join a lot of specialized social groups to meet each of your value-needs. Rather, mindful of your priorities, try looking at all the options that the EMG program provides for building a broad and meaningful personal fulfillment plan, or retirement plan, as the case may be. While there are important value areas not covered in this list, and still others that are not appropriate for public funded Extension organizations, the EMG program is a remarkable public service that can meet the needs of the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
Our MGPW fundraiser with Brent & Becky’s Bulbs supports our scholarship and community garden initiatives. Please designate us as the 501c(3) charity to receive funds from your purchases. Order online anytime, simply by going to their website:
www.bloominbucks.com
Pull down a menu of all non-profit organizations registered and select Master Gardeners of Prince William Inc. If you prefer, you can also request a catalogue and order over the phone, Toll Free at (877) 661-2852. Be sure to mention Master Gardeners of Prince William. Questions? Contact Jean Bennett, MGPW (540) 219-1440.
MGPW Fundraiser
AmazonSmile’s web entrance:
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/26-0008004
a portion of each purchase you make is donated to our organization— Master Gardeners of Prince William Inc.
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DONATIONS FOR THE SPRING PLANT SALE
by Leslie Paulson, MGPW
ere we are again. The Spring Plant Sale is just around the corner—it is on May 16th this year. Do remember not to include invasive species. Also please follow my instructions on H not donating the following plants as well: hostas and lirope. They do not sell well and hostas need to be covered with wire to stop the deer from eating them.
If you enjoy starting plants, herbs, and vegetables from seed, please consider donating a few to us. Check with me if you are considering donating more than 6-10 of any individual plant. People always ask about vegetables but some annuals and perennials would be a great addition to what we sell as well. Zinnias, marigolds, etc. will do well and are easy to grow.
I am willing to let you decide what you want to donate. Rather kind of me, right? The only stipulation is that the plants need to be of good size and healthy. This one time I will allow quart sized pots to be donated, as this is what size most starter vegetable and flowers come in. Also, I do have gallon pots if you need some. All donations are gratefully received.
Last year thanks to you all and a donation from Pat Lust, a Master Gardener from Farmville, we made over $7000. Donations of gardening items went well too. I’m asking if you have decorative pots, garden tools, garden art, and garden books that you aren’t using, please consider donating them to support our Garden. They must be in good condition and anything that doesn’t sell, especially the books, will be returned to you. BUT if you have a tool that is out dated, think twice about donating that please. I have only so much storage and it then means I need to find a home for it. To be safe you may just want to send me an email and picture so I can weigh in. Take a look and starting at the end of April you can bring them out to the Teaching Garden. If you have questions please send me an email at [email protected].
Thank you for supporting our beautiful Garden. Leslie
Help us celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and the spring opening of the Teaching Garden! Cities around the world will be competing to see who can make the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people in the 2020 City Nature Challenge. Thousands of people from across the globe will get out- side to look for nature in their cities and we will be competing with the DC region!
This is a great activity for children and we are also having a FREE class on common weeds and growing fruits and vegetables in 9am-12noon small areas. Coincides with April’s Saturday in the Garden. Learn more here: 9535 Linton Hall Rd, Bristow, VA. http://citynaturechallenge.org/ 19 Turnip News
2020 Saturday in the Garden Dates Our free horticulture classes take learning out of the classroom and into the garden! See all of our best practices in action with class at the Teaching Garden, 9535 Linton Hall Rd, Bristow, 20136.
Taught by VCE - Prince William Master Gardener Volunteers and Staff. All programs are free and run from 9:00 am-Noon. Classes are held outdoors, please dress for the weather.
Registration is requested to ensure adequate handouts and make notification of weather cancellations, please call 703-792-7747, email [email protected]
April 25 – What's That Weed? and Successfully Growing Vegetables and Fruit in Small Spaces Management strategies for lingering winter weeds and emerging summer weeds in the lawn and garden. Learn how to grow a substantial amount of edibles on a deck, patio or balcony. PLUS: City Nature Challenge.
May 16 – Permaculture and Yoga in the Garden Dreaming about creating a sustainable future in your suburban backyard? Come to this short introduction on Permaculture, the design of regenerative & ecological landscapes. Then stay and find out tricks to work out the kinks and keep you gardening longer. MGPW Spring Plant Sale!
June 20 – Composting at the Teaching Garden and Your Backyard and Vermiculture Learn tried and true and innovative composting methods from our Teaching Garden team and Master Gardener Patrick Lucas. Worms are the workhorses of mixing and adding organic materials to your living soil. Learn how to harness their skills to your backyard ecosystem.
July 25 – The Cut Flower Garden Cut flowers provide beauty and fun. Learn techniques for growing and using cut flowers in your life!
August 15 – Growing Mushrooms at Home and Cover Crops in the Home Garden Learn about growing mushrooms with the expert from Semper Fi Fungi. Start building your soil with cover crops. Free cover crop samples will be available.
September 19 – New Routines to Protect the Ecosystem with Fall Landscape Management Interested in reducing yard waste in the landfill? Learn new routines for fall yard management/ecosystem protection using yard debris. Hügelkultur, brush piles, leaf management, building twig structures will be covered & MGPW Plant Sale!
October 17 – Small Native Trees and Shrubs for the Suburban Landscape Learn how select to appropriate and beautiful native trees and shrubs that fit your suburban yard and improve habitat for songbirds and beneficial insects.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Christina Hastings, Virginia Cooperative Extension - Prince William at 703-792-6285/TDD* during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.
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Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings—Details MGPW RECERTIFICATION: MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020. 6:30 to 8:30pm. Required annual meeting for all MG’s, Interns and Staff. Edward Kelly Leadership Center, 14715 Bristow Rd., Manassas, VA. RSVP to the Extension Horticulture Help Desk (703) 792-7747 or [email protected]
MGPW BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS: Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:30pm—APRIL 8, MAY 13, and June 10, 2020. 102 D Sudley North Government Building 8033 Ashton Ave., Manassas. All MGPW volunteers are encouraged to attend. (RECERT takes the place of the March Board Meeting).
HELP DESK TRAINING: TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2020. 1:00 to 3:00pm. Training will be held at the Cooperative Extension Office, Ashton Ave., Suite 102, Conference Room D. Please register at (703) 792-7747 or [email protected]. Contact Jan Rice with questions [email protected]
PLANT-A-ROW ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING: Tuesday, March 24, 6:30-8:30pm. Review for PAR activities at both Manassas & Dale City Farmers’ Markets. McCourt County Complex, Occoquan Conference Room, Woodbridge, VA. Please register 703-792-7747 or [email protected]
MG CLINIC TRAINING: Thursday, April 2, 2020, 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Seasonal updates and reviews for Garden Centers and Farmers’ Market Clinics. McCoart Board Chambers, 1 County Complex, Woodbridge, VA. Please register 703-792-7747 or [email protected]
GARDEN CENTER PLANT CLINICS: “Ask a Master Gardener” Plant Clinics at local garden Centers (Lowes-Gainesville, Manassas and Woodbridge; Merrifield Garden Center-Gainesville; Southern States-Manassas). Saturdays, 10am to 1pm—April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2.
MERRIMAC FARM BLUEBELL FESTIVAL TABLE: “Ask a Master Gardener” info table April 11—10am to 4pm (setup @ 9am). Info about festival: http://www.pwconserve.org/merrimacfarm/ bluebellfestival/index.html
EARTH DAY INFORMATION TABLES: “Ask a Master Gardener” info tables for county employees April 20—McCoart Government Center, 1 County Complex Dr., Woodbridge; April 21—Ferlazzo, 15941 Donald Curtis Dr., Woodbridge; April 22—Development Services Bldg., 5 County Complex, Woodbridge.
FARMERS’ MARKET PLANT CLINICS: “Ask a Master Gardener” Plant Clinics. Dale City Farmers’ Market: Sundays, April 12 - October 11, 8 am - 1pm (except May 10, May 24, and Sept 6). Manassas Farmers’ Market: Saturdays, April 11 - October 10, 10am - 1pm (except July 4).
PLANT-A-ROW FOR THE HUNGRY (PAR) PRODUCE COLLECTION: Dale City @ the Farmers’ Market, Sundays, 12noon to 2:00pm, April to November. Arrive at the Farmers’ Market entrance, 14090 Gemini Way, Dale City, VA, and check in with the Master Gardeners standing near the Vulcan trucks between 12:00 and 12:30 pm. You are usually finished between 1:30 and 1:45 pm. Manassas @ Harris Pavillion, Thursdays, 12noon to 1:30pm, April to November. Arrive at the Harris Pavilion between 12:00 and 12:30 pm. 9201 Center St, Manassas, VA, and introduce yourself to other Master Gardeners near the ice skating building (you will see the pick up trucks). Start dates for each location TBA.
COMPOST AWARENESS DAY BOOTH: “Ask a Master Gardener” booth at McCoart Government Center, 1 County Complex, Woodbridge—May 9, 10am to 2pm (setup@ 9am). 22 Turnip News
Recent MGPW Happenings...
Some photos from our Pruning class in January, taught by MGPW volunteer Christine Huseman. First undercut of branch to be removed (first image), Second cut above first cut to remove potentially heavy branch, third image the final cut to leave the branch collar. The wound will heal over time!
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Get To Know A Critter
by Jason Alexander, MGPW
Chinese Mantid (Tenodera sinensis)
...Did You Know?
• Native to China and other parts of Asia this species was accidentally introduced to the U.S. in Pennsylvania around 1896.
• The ootheca (egg sac) is roughly the size and shape of a ping pong ball and may contain as many as 400 eggs.
• Long, slender, green and brown critters, reaching up to 11cm in length — it is the largest mantid in North America.
• Mantids are skilled hunters feeding mostly on other insects, but have been observed consum- ing small reptiles and even hummingbirds.
Source:
https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/348934 24